Rocky Mountain Views: Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013

DENVER POST MUST-READS– Do alcohol, marijuana mix? Colorado about to find outLink[1]– More older, working students in ColoradoLink[2]– Famlies protest theater remembrance eventLink[3]

MUST-READS FROM ELSEWHEREMedicaid Expansion Colorado will expand Medicaid coverage for low-income adults as called for by President Barack Obama’s federal health care law, Gov. John Hickenlooper said he plans to announce Thursday. Hickenlooper said he has identified $280 million in Medicaid savings over the next 10 years to pay for the change. Associated Press[4]

Fracking fight, take 1 As the nine members of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission prepare for a high-stakes debate next week over new rules for drilling in the state, anti-fracking activists from Boulder County are crying foul over what they see as an already-flawed process. Daily Camera[5]

Fracking fight, take 2 Weld County commissioners on Wednesday said increased setbacks proposed by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission infringe on the power of local governments and would hurt farmers, ranchers and developers. Greeley Tribune ($)[6]

Who shot… the elk? Residents of Mapleton Hill say Boulder police shot and killed a large bull elk at Ninth Street and Mapleton Avenue late Tuesday night — but no one from the police department, nor the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office nor Colorado Parks and Wildlife, has any record of the incident. Daily Camera[7]

PTC extended, now what? Take 1 Vestas officials won’t say whether they will rehire any laid-off workers at four Colorado plants, including its Pueblo site now that Congress has approved a one-year extension of the federal Production Tax Credit for wind power manufacturers. The Chieftain[8]

PTC extended, now what? Take 2 Though Congress’ extension of the wind Production Tax Credit is being highly lauded, it may only be enough to revive — not save — the wind energy industry, a growing source of jobs in Colorado in the past five years. Greeley Tribune ($)[9]

Gender gap reversal, or faulty polling? Colorado’s Debbie Brown, a savvy former Republican campaign operative, made it her mission in 2012 to disarm the biggest guns in the Democrats’ “war on women” strategy. Even though President Obama won the state, Mrs. Brown’s efforts made Colorado the only swing state where Republican challenger Mitt Romney reversed the gender gap and won more support from women than men — an effort Mrs. Brown said should be a template for Republicans in future elections. Washington Times[10]

Ex-con running for council Members of a community in Colorado Springs have an unusual decision to make now that a convicted felon announced his candidacy for city council. Fox31[11]

Salary cap-onomics: The Broncos this year had $26 million in cap rollover, second-most in the league. That made it easier to pay Manning $18 million this season. “If the don’t have that cap rollover, they don’t have Peyton Manning,” Canter said. Wall Street Journal[12]

Musings on new job Former six-term Congressman Scott McInnis wasn’t necessarily looking for a return to the political realm when he got an offer last summer to head up the five-county Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado. Glenwood P-I[13]

Dispensary vote set Dacono residents will get to vote May 7 on whether the city’s medical marijuana dispensaries should re-open. Once the ballot issue gets cleaned up, anyway. Times-Call[15]

Hemp power The founder of a local hemp textiles company, Enviro Textiles LLC, believes Colorado is poised to enter a new era of prosperity thanks to the recent passage of Amendment 64 to the state Constitution. Barbara Filippone, 56, who founded Enviro Textiles six years ago, has been promoting the beneficial qualities of hemp nationally and internationally for 24 years. Glenwood P-I[16]